Sports and Spirits

A weekly podcast that takes you into the biggest sports events of the week and what you should be drinking with them. Product reviews and ratings.
Matt East and Hank Allen have a combined 30 years experience in broadcast television. We're using that experience to bring you the latest news and topics in the world of sports and to highlight some of the great spirits in the United States and abroad. It's a little sports, spirits, and travel all in one place!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to listen.

Hank starts this week's show with a discussion on the Orphan Barrel Rhetoric series. The final expression is out, the Rhetoric 25 year. We have info on that. Plus, a review and thoughts on the 23 and 24 year releases of Rhetoric from Orphan Barrel.

After that Matt joins the show as we discuss the current NFL playoff situation. A lot of great matchups the final two weeks of the season. We'll talk about how we feel about each team in the hunt.

Plus we talk a little college football and basketball to wrap up the show. Happy Holidays and as always thinks for listening!

Matt and Hank are back this week as we head into a really big weekend of NFL matchups. First we start by talking a little drinking in the great city of Charlotte. Matt recently spent some time trying a couple new brews and enjoying some other food and beverage during the snow storm.

After that we give our thoughts on the Heisman trophy outcome. We'll talk about some of the big NFL matchups this weekend and what we are watching for. Plus discussing some of the early season bowl games.

Matt has survived his extended bout of various sicknesses and returns with Hank for the latest episode. We're going to give our thoughts on the college football playoffs and if we think the committee got it right. Plus what games we are interested in.

Then we'll talk a little college basketball and NFL. We wrap up the show with a really cool interview with Jaime Salas of Milagro Tequila. Really great info on the brand plus tequila in general. We had a lot of fun talking with him.

It's rivalry week! One of the best weekends of the year is upon us as we feast on college football rivalry week and early season basketball match-ups.

We start with some whiskey talk. We give you our thoughts on Bulleit Rye Whiskey (Hank 9/10, Matt 9/10) and Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon (Hank 9/10, Matt 8/10). Needless to say, we like them both. Plus some neat gift ideas for the cocktail lover in your life

Then it's time to talk college football as we look ahead to the the Apple Cup, Civil War, Iron Bowl, The Game, Notre Dame/USC, LSU/TAMU, Clemson/South Carolina and more.

In a cocktail shaker, combine Smirnoff Peppermint Twist and cranberry juice with ice. Shake. Fill a copper mug with ice, pour the vodka & juice over the ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with sugar coated cranberries and mint.

Combine all the juices in a punch bowl. Stir in the Sparkling wine and the Smirnoff No. 21 Holiday Ornament Vodka. Garnish with slices of limes, oranges, and frozen cranberries. Place a ball of raspberry sherbet into a glass. Ladle punch into the glass

4. Ornament Cocktail, Courtesy of Kendra Darling, Simply Darrling

(Makes 1 Cocktail)

Ingredients:

· 1.5 oz. Smirnoff No. 21 Holiday Ornament Vodka

· 2 oz. Pomegranate Juice

· 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup

· Splash Lime Juice

· Pomegranate Seeds & Mint Leaves for garnish

Directions:

Mix together the Smirnoff No. 21 Holiday Ornament Vodka, simple syrup, and juices. Use a funnel to pour into a clear ornament. Place Pomegranate seeds and mint leaves into a martini glass. To enjoy, pour the cocktail into the martini glass

Our favorite month of the year continues. Hank and Matt are back this week to give their thoughts on the MLB playoffs as the league championship series are about to wrap up.

Then we look ahead to some match-ups we will be watching in college football this weekend and some NFL games that we want to see. We'll pick some of these games and give our thoughts on the betting lines.

After that some fall and seasonal beer discussion. What do we think you should be trying?

A huge weekend on the sports calendar as we wrap up September and Matt and Hank are here to break it all down.

We start with a quick recap of the NFL and college football seasons so far. Then at 26:30 we discuss baseball's final regular season weekend and what it means in the National League. Huge implications!

We follow that up by picking some of the big games this weekend. Stanford/Notre Dame, Ohio State/Penn State, Washington/BYU, LSU/Ole Miss.

Plus we will give our thoughts on the weekend of NFL action coming up.

A lot to talk about in the world of football as we head towards one of our favorite times of year, October. Matt and Hank recap the most recent weekend of action for you and what stands out in NFL and college.

Then we take it back to Tales of the Cocktail to talk with Desmond Payne, Master Distiller with Beefeater Gin. He is a true legend in the spirits world and really fun to talk too.

After that we pick some of the big games this weekend. We break down TAMU/Alabama, Stanford/Oregon, TCU/Texas, New Orleans/Atlanta, Cincinnati/Carolina, and Pittsburgh/Tampa Bay.

Big show this week as Matt and Hank are back to break down all the big games in football this weekend. Plus our Vegas Insider Raphael Esparza joins us to talk Canelo/GGG 2, along with all the insights into Vegas you need. Plus what he's watching in the NFL.

We also break down the big games in college football. 3 top 25 matchups and we will give you our picks.

And we'll talk with Exotico Tequila's Graciela Gonzalez about the industry and what they have been up too.

College football is back and we have a big show for you this week! Matt and Hank start by breaking down the weekend weather to let you know what games may be impacted.

Then it's on to some of the big games of the weekend. We'll talk about Ole Miss/Texas Tech, West Virginia/Tennessee, Michigan/Notre Dame, Auburn/Washington, Miami/LSU, and Virginia Tech/Florida State.

In between the games we have a great interview with Paul Hletko, the founder of FEW Spirits in Evanston, IL. Got to taste some really great whiskey and gin at Tales of the Cocktail with him. Lot of information as well.

Finally we wrap up the show with our review of Captain Morgan Apple Smash. It's an interesting drink and we give our thoughts.

We are inching closer to the start of college football! Matt and Hank are back this week to break down the rest of the power 5 conferences.

We start with a quick discussion over the NFL helmet rule. How it's going so far in the preseason. Then it's off to our predictions and analysis of the Big 10 this season. How does Urban Meyer's story affect our picks?

Then we go to part 2 of our interview with David Powell of Flor de Caña Rum. If you missed part one last week go back and listen. Great time talking with him.

We will wrap up the show with our breakdowns of the Pac 12 and Big 12, and whether we see any playoff contenders from these conferences.

Huge show this week for Episode 91! Matt and Hank are back to talk about some preseason stories in the NFL. We touch on where we think Dez Bryant may end up, Jalen Ramsey qb comments, and some other news around the league.

We also give our thoughts on Ronald Acuna Jr with the Braves getting hit to lead off the game this week.

Then it's back to Tales of the Cocktail. Part one of our interview with Flor de Caña Rum Brand Ambassador David Powell. He has some great stories to tell.

After that we give you our preview for the SEC and ACC conferences this upcoming college football season. Who do we think ends up the champion, and what teams should you be on the lookout for.

As always thanks for listening! Subscribe to the show on iTunes or Spotify.